A blog for memories of Madison Central High, created and maintained by the Dane County Historical Society.

October 27, 2009

Sheila Owens: Memories

I remember my grandmother pulling me out of St.
Patrick’s Grade School and moving to California (her dream) second semester
(1955). I cried all summer to go home
(Madison). She gave in and then spent
the remaining time insisting that I go to Edgewood. Well after crying for a month - I won. Thank God for tears and I don't regret one of
them.

I did bring back a fashion statement from CA -
a charcoal colored Bermuda skirt - lined with red taffeta (taffeta shorts
underneath) - gray and red argyle knee socks and a red crew necked
sweater. It stopped traffic on the square
- well maybe not stopped but I did get a few odd looks. Now remember that only 1/2 inch of my knee
showed and now more than that much flesh shows hanging out of the young girls
short shorts and bare midriffs.

I remember being in class and was called
Sheiler. I asked Mr. Peepers to call me
Miss Owens if he couldn't pronounce my name properly - what a brat I was
(am). I remember wearing braces with
rubber bands and sneezing in class - one rubber band landed on the back of
Chuckie's sweater and I was sent out of the room to compose myself - I couldn't
stop laughing. I remember scumming for
sorority and wearing unmatched clothes - no combing of hair - no matching socks
- and polishing the senior boys shoes for pennies for charity. I thought I suffered that week.

I remember duck tail haircuts, crew cuts, lying
on the couch to zip up my jeans with a pliers - and they say the kids wear
tight pants now - I remember all the greasy goo the men wore on their slick
backed long hair - black leather jackets - collars up - button down shirts -
wearing cardigan sweaters backwards with matching angora socks - buck skin
saddle shoes - better yet pink buck skin saddle shoes - penny loafers - neck scarves
to complete the outfit. I remember bobby
pins, pony tails, hoop skirts with lots of starched petty coats. I remember always straightening the seams of
my hose held up by a garter belt - and on dress up day wearing three inch
pointed toed spiked heels. I remember my
grandmother saying that if I played Heartbreak Hotel one more time she was
going to break it. I remember drama
club and performing in the plays and one in particular was being the mother in
“Our Town” and having to use baby powder in my hair to gray it up a bit - never
thinking that someday there wouldn't be one speck of my hair that isn't gray.

I remember curly fries and root beer at the
Hungry Hungry - my first pizza at Paisan’s.
Dollar night at the Outdoor - Walking to Central from Williamson Street
to save the bus money for a coke.
Walking home from Central barefoot in the rain so my new shoes wouldn't
get wet.

But the most important thing I remember is how
all of us shared a bond of caring about each other, laughing at and with each
other and memories of them that carried us into adulthood and helped form our
outlook on life - past - present - and future.
I thank each and every one of you.